Newsnight on Tuesday, 1st June 2010

iPlayer Information:

With Kirsty Wark.

Includes rare access to the world's most secretive country, North Korea, on a trip which coincided with celebrations to mark the birthday of the country's Great Leader, Kim Il-Sung.

Broadcast on:
BBC Two, 10:30pm Tuesday 1st June 2010

Duration:
50 minutes

Available until:
11:19pm Tuesday 8th June 2010

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The programme largely focused on the situation in the Middle East; and an insight into North Korea.

News correspondent reporting from Jerusalem. Israel had attacked a flotilla carrying aid to the Gaza Strip, killing four Turkish activists/civilians. This effectively causes much discontent with Israel's closest Muslim ally.

Flotilla's primary purpose was to carry basic supplies to the region. A secondary purpose, was to campaign and raise awareness to the Israeli government to end the blockade of Gaza.

Blockade of Gaza, in it's third year, maintained by the Israelis for it's protection, to prevent supplies going to Hamas (perceived to be a terrorist harbour by the West). The intention is also to weaken terrorists' political hold on Gaza. These intentions, and their positive ramifications (if any) is subject to closer inspection and question.

Mark Urban (BBC's Diplomatic Editor) gave a rather detailed, impressive analysis of the situation and events using close footage taken during the raid. Pointing out the tactics and weaponry used, as distinct from say how UK and US forces would approach the same situation. Points towards the potential use of an Uzi, at odds with the non-lethal intention to subdue the boat. Widespread criticism of tactics employed, saying it should not have been military, provoking retaliation from those on board and evoking an near-inevitable response(video evidence of).

Turkey and Israel used to be strong allies in terms of Intelligence and Politics. But this 'crisis' has the Turkish leading more towards Iran (enemies of Israel). Syria also deemed a threat.

Israeli Government Spokesman is keen to emphasise that the intention of the operation was to escort/take the flotilla to a port and have their supplies distributed there. They were successful in doing this peacefully for five of the six boats of the the flotilla. On only one of them did violence ensue. Relatively implacable on maintaining what it deems a necessary blockade for the sake of security. This is supported by the US.

An advisor to the Palestinian Government condemned Israel's actions. Calls for a lifting of the blockade, that it should have the right to self-determine (which Egypt have apparently done). Violence is surely brimming, with frustration that they can't be free to do what they want with such constraints. The blockade is a contributing factor to escalating violence, opposed to being wholly preventative, in his estimation.

A previous US Ambassador to Israel, supposedly the neutral voice spoke of a 'squaring of the circle' (like that phrase) whereby a situation would be in place to 'ease the passage of goods' whilst maintaining the blockade. This partially mirrors William Hague's (The Foreign Secretary) statement.



Other notes:
Barack Obama has spoken to the Turkish Prime Minister.
Fiasco